i.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, headed by BJP MP B C Khanduri
will examine the operational preparedness of the armed forces. Next meeting of
this committee is scheduled to be held in November 2017.

ii.
Procurement policy relating to defence equipment. Critically review accidents
involving strategic defence assets. It is to be noted that recently several
accidents have been reported involving Indian Navy ships and Indian Air Force
helicopters.

iii.
To look into the quality of ration given to the forces especially in border
areas. Major research and development initiatives, including private sector
participation will also be assessed.

iv.
The committee will also discuss measures to revamp training for defence
personnel in the light of latest technological advancements.

2.RAJASTHAN ASSEMBLY BECOMES FIRST IN INDIA TO CALL MOTIONS ONLINE

i.
Rajasthan State assembly has become the first in India to call attention and
adjournment motions and proposals online from legislators.Rajasthan Assembly
becomes first in India to call motions onlinei. The new online system was
inaugurated by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Speaker Kailash Meghwal by sending a
call for an attention motion to the state government with a click of mouse.

ii.
Besides saving time, labour and use of paper in the functioning of the
assembly, the online system will also help legislators in bringing attention to
urgent public issues.

iii.
The new online system will facilitate smooth exchange of information and
reports among respective departments.

iv.
National Informatics Centre has set up a help desk at the secretariat to
provide assistance to state government staff in getting used to the new system.

3.UNION BANK LAUNCHES UNION SAHYOG APP

i.
Union Bank of India launched an Android app named, ‘Union Sahyog’, as a part of
its efforts to digitise customer-facing banking services. The Union Sahyog app
was launched by RajKiran Rai G, Managing Director & Chief Executive
Officer, Union Bank of India. This App is bilingual, offered in both English
and Hindi.

iii.
Union Sahyog is currently available for download on the Google Play Store. An
iOS version is in development process.

4.3. GDP MAY GROW AT 7% IN FINANCIAL YEAR 2017-18: NITI AAYOG

i.
According to NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar, the economic slowdown that
began in 2013-14 has bottomed out and the GDP is likely to grow at 6.9-7 % this
fiscal (2017-18) and 7.5% in 2018-19. The economic growth slowed to 7.1% in
2016-17, the year in which 87% of the currency was demonetised, despite a very
good show by the agricultural sector.

ii.
On a quarterly basis also, the growth in the first quarter of the current
fiscal had slipped to 5.7%. In the next fiscal year, the growth would be about
7.5%.

i.
Abu Dhabi Global Market, the International Financial Centre in Abu Dhabi, and
Yes Bank have signed a MoU, to further encourage cross-border exchange between
the fintech ecosystems of the United Arab Emirates and India.

ii.
The collaboration will enable fintech innovators from the Middle East region
and India to apply into Yes FinTech programmes and the ADGM’s Regulatory
Laboratory, and will get the opportunity to expand into each other’s markets.

iii.
Yes Bank is India’s 5th largest private sector bank. It has an in-house fintech
accelerator named Yes FinTech. Yes FinTech is a platform for Yes Bank and
fintech startups to co-create innovative solutions and participate in taking
the solution to the bank’s customers.

6.GOVERNMENT APPOINTS MK GUPTA, DK GAYEN AS NEW RAILWAY BOARD
MEMBERS

i.
The Government of India appointed MK Gupta and DK Gayen as new members in the
Railway Board.

ii.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Mahesh
Kumar Gupta and DK Gayen. D. K. Gayen is presently the General Manager of East
Central Railway. He has been appointed as new Member (Staff) in the Railway
Board and ex officio Secretary to the Government of India.

iii.
M.K.Gupta is presently the General Manager of Modern Coach Factory Raibareli.
He has been appointed as new Member (Engineering) in the Railway Board and ex
officio Secretary to the Government of India.

7.DEFENCE MINISTER TO COMMISSION INS KILTAN INTO INDIAN NAVY IN
VISAKHAPATNAM

i.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has commissioned an indigenously-built
anti-submarine warfare stealth corvette INS Kiltan into the Indian Navy at the
Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.

ii.
According to Defence Minister, INS Kiltan strengthens India's defence system
and will be a shining armour in 'Make in India' programme as it is totally
built indigenously.

i.
Former president Pranab Mukherjee released ‘The Coalition Years: 1996-2012’,
the third part of his memoir in New Delhi. While releasing the memoir, Pranab
Mukherjee stated that he is a party activist and has tried to not bring his
personal, family life into the narrative.

ii.
The event was attended by former PM Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia
Gandhi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. In this latest part of his
memoir, Pranab Mukherjee has revealed that he was under the impression that
Congress may project Manmohan Singh as its presidential candidate, leaving him
to be the party’s prime ministerial nominee for the 2014 general election.

iii.
First part of Pranab Mukherjee’s memoir is ‘The Dramatic Decade: The Indira
Gandhi Years’. The title of the second part is ‘The Turbulent Years:
1980-1996’.

OBJECTIVE
QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS

Q1.
WHICH COMMITTEE WAS APPOINTED TO EXAMINE THE OPERATIONAL PREPAREDNESS OF THE
ARMED FORCES?

a) Committee on Public Undertakings

b) Committee on Defence

c) Committee on Estimates

d) Rules Committee

Q2. WHICH STATE’S ASSEMBLY HAS BECOME FIRST IN
INDIA TO CALL ATTENTION AND ADJOURNMENT MOTIONS ANDPROPOSALS ONLINE FROM LEGISLATORS?

a) Telengana

b) TamilNadu

c) Kerala

d) Rajasthan

Q3.
WHICH BANK LAUNCHED AN ANDROID APP NAMED, ‘UNION SAHYOG’, AS A PART OF ITS
EFFORTS TO DIGITISE CUSTOMER-FACING BANKING SERVICES?

a) Union Bank of India

b) United bank of India

c) IDBI bank

d) Federal bank

Q4.
WHO WAS DEFEATED BY ROGER FEDERER OF SWITZERLAND TO WIN SHANGHAI MASTERS TENNIS
TOURNAMENT?

a) Juan Martin

b) Novak Djokovic

c) Rafael Nadal

d) Andy Murray

Q5.
TOTAL HOW MANY PARTS OF PRANAB MUKHERJEE’S MEMOIR HAVE BEEN RELEASED TILL DATE?